Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-12-14
GOES OVER THE ROAD.
q verdict of Guilty in the Fidelity Bank
Wrecking Case.

Wrecking Case.
CINCINNATI, O., Dec. 12.-The greatest
crowd that yet gathered in the corridors
OF the United States courtroom reassem-
bled this morning long before the time
for the assembly of the court. 1t was
impossible for ladies to get in at the
public door, and only those who had
friends to show them the private en-
frances could reach the court room.
AT III O'Clock, Judge Sage appeared
alone, Judge Jackson having been called
TO hold court in Covington. Court
was opened, and seven minutes later
the jury filed in. As soon as they we're
seated, Judge Sage asked if they had
agreed upon their verdict and the fore
man said they had. The Judge directed
the clerk to receive it. At this point
Mr.. Blackburn called the courts atten-
ton to the absence of the defendant.
Let him be brought in,' said the
Judge.
In two minutes Marshal Urner en-
tered followed by Mr. Harper, looking
pale and concerned. Behind him came
his wife, her face a study. 1t looked as
II she was upborne by a faith that in
some way she was to hear good news
from that jury. Miss Matthews, her
sister, followed, as calm as she could
compose herself to be. When they
were seated the clerk took the sealed
envelope inclosing the sentence, tore it
open and read the fatal words, eve,
the jury, find the defendant guilty as
charged In the Indictment
This meant guilty on all the thirty
three counts left for the Jury to act upon,
There was no outcry from either of the
women. Mrs. Harper sat as if trans
fixed, but Miss Matthews found relief in
tears which she struggled with all her
power to repress.
Mr.. Blackburn moved an arrest of
Judgment, which the court instantly
overruled. Then District-Attorney Bur
net moved for immediate sentence, and
that the sentence be cumulative.
Judge Sage, IN somewhat lengthy
opinion. stated the result of his investi-
CATION on the question of cumulative
sentences in a case like this and this
gave some relief to the suddenness of
the blow upon Mr.. Harper's family. He
finally overruled the motion and asked
II the defendant had anything to say b.
Tore sentence was pronounced upon him.
Mr.. Blackburn arose and said that the
defendant wished to speak through him,
and to say that he had nothing to add to
what had been said. except to thank the
court for its fair and impartial treatment
and to ask that the court be as merciful
as the circumstances and the law would
permit.
At 1925 the court directed Harper to
stand up. 1t was a most distressing
scene. The strong man stood erect
with tears coursng down his cheeks, but
no other sign of emotion, save his
blanched face. Behind his chair, with
bowed head, sat his wife in an agony
that had no better manifestation than
the wringing Of her hands. Tears did
not come to her relief. Miss Matthews,
far more demonstrative, still repressed
sobs, and in her own distress reached
over to try to comfort her sister by a
touch. So they sat, while the court
with impressive solemnity recited the
usual form of sentence, saying the evil
dence let no doubt OF the defendant 8
guilt and that the defense merited the
highest penalty of the law, which the
court would now impose-ten years IL
the Ohio penitentiary, and that the
marshal convey him thither at once
Still no outcry. Mr.. Harper sat down,
turning to his wife. Their lips met her
hands were around his neck. his arms
encompassed her. The silence in the
court room was awful. Jurors wept,
women and men all over the court room
were IN tears.
The silence was broken by Mr. Black
burn making last request from the
court. That was that the order for i'm
mediate imprisonment be suspended,
and gave as reason that there was
much business TO be attended to by Mr.
Harper in which his wife was closely
concerned, and it would be ex-
ceedingly difficult to attend to it unless
Mr.. Harper could remain here for few
DAYS But the court was relentless
Judge Sage said there could be oppor-
tunity for his wife to see him in Column
bus, and he repeated the order to the
marshal to convey him thither to-day
At 1870 the jury was discharged and
Marshal Urner conducted the defendant